Clarke Johnstone and Orient Express produced a consistent and polished dressage test on day 1 of the World Cup
Event at the Kihikihi International Horse Trial to finish on a score of 45.7 penalties, barely a whisker ahead of visiting Australian rider Chris Burton (Holstein Park Leilani) on 45.9 penalties. Lizzie Brown and Henton Attorney General finished in third place on 46.8 penalties after the horse made a couple of uncharacteristic errors which robbed them of a better score. Australian Shane Rose and the talented Taurus and Alice Montgomery and Gordon finished fourth equal on a score of 50.7 penalties after both producing quality rhythmic tests. Spectators were treated to a strong display of dressage from the top half of the field. The action switches tomorrow to the cross-country when riders will tackle John Nicholson’s testing cross-country track. The tight set of scores after day 1 means that there will be little room for complacency.
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